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Pagan lands on DL with strained hamstring

Pagan lands on DL with strained hamstring

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Pagan's inside-the-parker 2:48

5/25/13: Angel Pagan hammers a two-run walk-off inside-the-park home run off Rafael Betancourt to give the Giants a 6-5 win in the 10th

By Chris Haft
/
MLB.com |

PHOENIX -- Realizing that Angel Pagan's strained left hamstring wasn't improving as quickly as they had hoped, the Giants placed the center fielder and leadoff hitter on the 15-day disabled list Friday.

To replace Pagan on the active roster, the Giants called up outfielder-infielder Juan Perez from Triple-A Fresno.

Pagan, who turns 32 on July 2, underwent a second MRI on Friday in Phoenix as the club attempted to learn more about the extent of the injury that has sidelined him since he hit his game-winning, inside-the-park home run against Colorado on May 25. Manager Bruce Bochy said that Pagan's hamstring remained inflamed though his condition was improving overall. Pagan has spent approximately a week performing baseball-related activities.

Because a disabled-list assignment cannot be backdated more than 10 days, Pagan's DL stint was retroactive to May 28. He'll be eligible for activation Thursday at Pittsburgh. The switch-hitter was batting .262 with 30 runs and six stolen bases in 46 games.

Entering Friday, the Giants were 4-6 in Pagan's absence and 2 1/2 games behind the D-backs in the National League West standings.

"You're always going to miss your leadoff hitter," Bochy said, pointing out that he could use Gregor Blanco and Andres Torres in advantageous matchups against opposing pitchers more frequently with Pagan in the lineup. With Pagan sidelined, both Blanco and Torres are the lineup simultaneously more often than not.

Perez, 26, will make his Major League debut whenever he appears in his first game. The right-handed batter, who ranked 20th on MLB.com's list of the organization's top prospects, hit .296 with nine home runs and 34 RBIs in 57 games for Fresno. Mostly used as an outfielder in his previous four professional seasons, Perez played 34 games at third base and 11 at shortstop this year. He also had spent time at all three outfield spots.

Perez has rebounded since hitting .172 (5-for-29) in 17 Spring Training games. Referring to a discussion he had with Fresno manager Bob Mariano and hitting coach Russ Morman about Perez, Bochy said: "They said they didn't know who that guy was in Spring Training."

Bochy added that though Blanco and Torres will continue to play regularly during Pagan's absence, Perez will receive some playing time, particularly against left-handed pitching.

Chris Haft is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.